Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:03/22/2025

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Hi, there are several issues with his billing.  This complaint is only on billing issues and not about the alleged work performed.  One example is for phone calls that I was on hold and was told nobody was available that I was billed for.  I was never kept up on no billing charges period until the end.  Another example is emails that I sent and were never responded to or looked at and nobody had any knowledge of them.  There are several more issues like this and others.   Attempts to resolve the billing issues with there office has been ignored and I was told by the Mr. ********************* "they did not know if the billing was proper or mistakes."  Any questions please feel free to contact me.  Thank you!

  Customer Answer

  Date: 03/24/2025

  This is a complaint for only billing issues.  So I am perplexed by your message?  Thanks

  Customer Answer

  Date: 03/27/2025

  Both, and on both complaints.  If someone could reach out to me please.  Thank You!

  Customer Answer

  Date: 03/27/2025

  Hi, there are several issues with his billing.  This complaint is only on billing issues and not about the alleged work performed. One example is for phone calls that I was on hold and was told nobody was available that I was billed for.  I was never kept up on no billing charges period until the end.  Another example is emails that I sent and were never responded to or looked at and nobody had any knowledge of them.  There are several more issues like this and others.   Attempts to resolve the billing issues with there office has been ignored and I was told by the Mr. ********************* "they did not know if the billing was proper or mistakes."  Any questions please feel free to contact me.  Thank you!
  

  Business Response

  Date: 03/31/2025

  This complaint to the Better Business Bureau represents an unfortunate attempt by a former client to avoid financial obligations for legal services legitimately provided. Our firm has consistently maintained the highest standards of professional conduct throughout our representation.
  
  The facts are straightforward:
  
  Mr. ****** received comprehensive, itemized billing that accurately reflects all services rendered. We only billed for substantive consultations with attorneys or staff directly related to the case. Our billing practices are transparent and ethical.
  
  Our representation concluded when it became clear we could no longer fulfill the client's directives without compromising our professional ethical obligations. Prior to this point, we maintained consistent communication and addressed all client correspondence appropriately.
  
  Before filing an attorney's liena standard legal procedure to secure rightful paymentwe conducted a thorough review of all charges to ensure complete accuracy. This review included verification by both administrative staff and the responsible attorney, ***** Ciyou.
  
  We value our professional reputation and take all client concerns seriously. However, the allegations presented in this complaint mischaracterize both our services and our conduct. We respectfully request that the Better Business Bureau consider these facts when evaluating this matter.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 03/31/2025

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined the response would not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below. 
  
  I would request that Mr. ******************** not refer to me by my name in the complaint and only as, Client, due to confidentially matters.  This complaint to the BBB (Better Business Bureau) does not represent an unfortunate attempt by a former client to avoid alleged financial obligations for alleged legal services not legitimately provided.  This firm has not consistently maintained any standards of professional conduct within their alleged representation.  ******************** and Associates attempts to smear and muddy the waters of a legitimate factual billing claims.
  
  ******************** and Associates need to understand the scope of the BBB and their representation of a claim against a business.  The BBB primarily focuses on consumer-business disputes, not legal or ethical ones.  Lawyers are subject to strict professional conduct rules that are outside the scope of the BBB and fall within the Indiana Judicial Branch and the ***********************.  This complaint and the BBB forum is for billing disputes only and not discussions of ethical behavior, rules, ethics or if proper legal representation was provided. What ******************** and Associates discuss is outside the scope of the BBB and that is an opinion of ******************** and Associates and not facts.  The complaint is regarding factual proof not the assumptions and opinions of either party. The facts are not as straight forward as ******************** and Associates allege.  This is only a small snapshot of the serious flawed billing issues and the serious concerns. ******************** and Associates has replied with misinformed and misinterpreted beliefs and opinions.
  
  These facts are straight forward:
  
  Page two paragraph two of ******************** and Associates Contract that was signed on January 28, 2025, states, The current monthly professional services statement will be sent on or about the 1st of each calendar month and is payable in full in ten (ten) days, along with any requested replenishment retainer.  That is a fact that is straight forward.  No monthly professional service statement was ever sent that follows this language. I challenge ******************** and Associates to provide this documentation?  Fact straight forward, this was a violation of the contract.  The only alleged monthly professional service statement was sent after they resigned on March 19, 2025, and a statement was sent on March 20, 2025.  The Client was never kept updated on how much of the retainer was allegedly being used, what was allegedly left, or that how much was allegedly being billed each month and what for.  Mr. ******************** just goes on a blanket billing circus and violates his own contract. 
  
  ******************** and Associates were paid $5,000.00 in the initial retainer.  Then allege over $8,000.00 more is due.  A reasonable person would possibly expect if a retainer allegedly was depleted, that they would notify the Client of this as it is stated in the contract.  It could be reasonably assumed possibly a few hundred dollars allegedly went over if accurate and reasonable accounting measures were in place at ******************** and Associates. However, to continue to allegedly bill for over $8,000.00 not including the alleged used $5,000.00 is not only shocking, but raw unchecked sloppy billing, and abuse.  The Client had already notified them they could not afford the $20,000.00 unreasonably demanded seven days before trial, yet Mr. ******************** continues to ravage his alleged billing circus.
  
  Within the same paragraph of that contract and another fact that is straight forward is and is payable in full ten (10) days.  And that was stated again in their email on March 20, 2025.  A lien was filed on March 24, 2025.  It is documented Mr.******************** struggles with facts, reasonable accounting measures, math, and contractual obligation.  Ten days would be March 30, 2025, and not March 24, 2025, for the alleged payment of services before filing this.  Again another fact that is straight forward regarding their sloppy accounting and bookkeeping.  It is not a hard burden to prove if they cannot keep accurate billing records, notifications to their clients, and follow their own contract that there are some serious flaws with these undisputed facts of billing.
  
  Mr. ******************** shall not make an agreement for, charge, or collect an unreasonable fee or an unreasonable amount for expenses, results obtained, time limitations imposed by the circumstances, and any basis, or the fee and expenses for which the client will be responsible shall be communicated to the client.  Facts are straight forward again and that was never done.
  
  The problem with ******************** and Associates is there is no oversight and accounting for their actions and representations.  They produce only flawed misinformation that supports their serious flawed opinions and unchecked greed.  ******************** and Associates has formed an irrational theory and in their imagination only sees every object that favors that irrational theory.  These are just a few of the many serious flawed issues with their billing that will be supported further.
  
  A conversation on March 27, 2025, that was recorded,Mr. ******************** stated, I do not know if there is a mistake or not or something improper, and you can send me an email about it.  Mr. ******************** then states later, You send it in an email, I probably wont respond, and then The billing is correct, and Im sure you do have issues with the billing.  Mr. ******************** as seen consistently makes misrepresentations and contradicting statements within the call and call the Client names.  I recorded this and other calls for future evidence.
  
  Mr. ******************** claims his practices are transparent and ethical, again the BBB is not the forum to allege any ethical concerns.  The forum is only to present factually support of billing issues.
  
  Their representations concluded in their own motion and order to the court, withdral is not for purposes of hindrance or delay to these proceedings, but due to the financial burden that has been placed on the Respondent.  Nowhere in that motion and order is it cited as in Mr. ******************** response there would be any issues to fulfill the client's directives without compromising our professional ethical obligations.  Again this is not the forum for ethical discussions.  And the client has factual evidence to dispute, maintained consistent communicated and addressed all client correspondence appropriately.  However, again this is not the forum for that discussion or ethical guidelines.
  
  And it is documented that ******************** and Associates demanded $20,000.00 seven days in advance before a potential trial and admitted, they were not prepared and no communications period on current or previous billing.
  
  Mr. ******************** presents no facts regarding what this alleged financial review, is or what it consists. One example of many, Mr. ******************** bills and fails to address is a phone call the Client was billed for.  A phone call was placed and the Client was put on hold when asking if the responsible attorney, was available, after being on hold for approximately five minutes,and told he was not.  The responsible attorney, billed for that phone call of being on hold and not being available.  This is just one of many serve issues within their billing.
  
  Mr. ******************** has admitted before in emails his lack of preparedness and there is no mischaracterization of their alleged services and conduct.  I present facts, not blanket statements, or vague language with no support.  Mr. ******************** has been disciplined before for his behavior and conduct.  On April 20, 2015, Mr. ******************** received discipline from the Indiana Judicial Branch and *********************** for his conduct and behavior. I respectfully request the BBB consider this and all of these facts when evaluating this matter and not opinions, vague statements, and blanket statements in this billing only matter. 
  
  I have attached in the documents section ******************** and Associates Contract, Fee Agreement. and a copy of ******************** and Associates Response and the Client's Response.  I am asking for a refund of the $5,000.00 and the alleged billing removed to resolved the damages forced upon the Client from ******************** and Associates behavior and conduct.
  
  Regards,
  
  **** ******
  

  Business Response

  Date: 04/01/2025

  Ciyou & Associates prior response was comprehensive and accurate. We will not continue to debate this distorted and inaccurate consumer complaint. Ciyou & Associates, P.C.s reputation speaks for itself.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 04/03/2025

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined the response would not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below. 
  
  As it can be seen ******************** and Associates prior response was not comprehensive and accurate.  It was vague and using blanket language with no support behind it or addressing a single undisputed facts and evidence presented. ******************** and Associates specifically Mr. ******************** instead of addressing the concerns results to attacking with language that is not supported and offensive.  ******************** and Associates has had a history of this behavior.  Mr. ******************** and ******************** Associates only problem is they fail to listen to accurate client factually supported evidence that disputes their own irrational alleged attempt to cover up their gross negligence and failures to address matters.  This complaint is addressing only a small snapshot of the issues, unreasonable accounting measures, and billing issues,that ******************** and Associates cannot present any evidence to disprove the supported evidence the Client has presented.
  
  Facts are facts, and the Client has presented a few of the many undisputed billing and accounting issues that Mr. ******************** and ******************** and associates have failed to support contradicting evidence against.  As seen by ******************** and Assoicates response, clients concerns are taken seriously, apparently by this support they are not.    
  
  I value my integrity and respectfully request that the BBB consider the supported facts when evaluating ******************** and Associates and this matter.  The Client values his integrity and obviously in my opinion based statement that ******************** and Associates does not.  Thank you.
  
  I respectfully request ******************** and Associates return the retainer for their gross negligence and remove the filed lien because of the many failures, issues, unreasonable accounting measures, and inaccurate alleged billing.  The Client will consider this matter resolved if that event occurs. Thank you.  
  
  Regards,
  
  **** ******